Democratic Primaries

TomCADem

(17,764 posts) Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:00 PM Mar 2020

Why Did Tulsi Gabbard Endorse Biden and Not Bernie?

Tulsi Gabbard endorsed Bernie Sanders back in 2016. She is listed as a fellow of Bernie's private foundation, and is still prominently featured on their website:

https://www.sandersinstitute.com/about/gabbard

Also, in terms of rhetoric, Tulsi has been far more outspoken in attacking the "Democratic Establishment," then Bernie Sanders. Indeed, during debates, Tulsi would often take a lead role in attacking Bernie's rivals. So, why didn't Tulsi drop out earlier and endorse Bernie Sanders? What happened between Tulsi and Bernie?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

35 replies

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Why Did Tulsi Gabbard Endorse Biden and Not Bernie? (Original Post) TomCADem Mar 2020 OP

Gabbard wants to be re-elected. She needs Biden's coattails, not Bernie's. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2020 #1

She's not running for reelection. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #3

Then she's just a realist who doesn't want to be caught backing the wrong horse. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2020 #5

I think it makes sense. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #9

I think the reason is probably exactly what she said it was in her video. thesquanderer Mar 2020 #34

"I'm confident that he will lead our country guided by the spirit of aloha" ucrdem Mar 2020 #35

Rubio didn't run for re-election in '16, saying he wanted to concentrate on his presidential bid. sop Mar 2020 #16

Well she can run all she wants but we already Cha Mar 2020 #18

No.. that's a good reason, though, if she hadn't Cha Mar 2020 #17

Maybe she will change her mind.. she'll be running against Kai Kahele Cha Mar 2020 #19

She's a realist. TwilightZone Mar 2020 #2

Maybe she hopes to be his veep? FM123 Mar 2020 #4

Hah! SCantiGOP Mar 2020 #6

Kinda, but not really. FM123 Mar 2020 #13

It does seem strange, agincourt Mar 2020 #7

"The Establishment" does not exist. George II Mar 2020 #10

Is this the latest? mikelgb Mar 2020 #22

All are precision engineered to fuck with anti-establishment types SiliconValley_Dem Mar 2020 #23

Does antidisestablishmentarianism? ZZenith Mar 2020 #26

The establishment? You mean the category for anyone not for Bernie? GulfCoast66 Mar 2020 #20

Who cares? CTyankee Mar 2020 #8

+100000000 Celerity Mar 2020 #32

This message was self-deleted by its author democratisphere Mar 2020 #11

Smarter than she looks, perhaps it was mostly an act relayerbob Mar 2020 #12

Now that Americans are dying of a public health crisis IronLionZion Mar 2020 #14

Sanders isn't gonna win. n/t PoliticAverse Mar 2020 #15

Hopping on the bus driven by the winner? GulfCoast66 Mar 2020 #21

Maybe she wants to have a future in comradebillyboy Mar 2020 #24

Because Sanders isn't a real candidate anymore. tritsofme Mar 2020 #25

Was he ever? Aquaria Mar 2020 #29

I'm sure it's a signal Bernie is dropping out. LisaM Mar 2020 #27

it makes her more marketable to Fox onenote Mar 2020 #28

This, absolutely dansolo Mar 2020 #31

Maybe it strengthens the public perception of her lawsuit against Clinton. Beakybird Mar 2020 #30

Because Hillary Clinton is the popular nemesis scapegoat, not Joe Biden. betsuni Mar 2020 #33

The Velveteen Ocelot

(121,014 posts)

1. Gabbard wants to be re-elected. She needs Biden's coattails, not Bernie's.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:02 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)

3. She's not running for reelection.

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #1)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:04 PM

Mar 2020

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/25/politics/tulsi-gabbard-wont-run-for-house-seat-2020/index.html

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

The Velveteen Ocelot

(121,014 posts)

5. Then she's just a realist who doesn't want to be caught backing the wrong horse.

Reply to TwilightZone (Reply #3)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:06 PM

Mar 2020

It's embarrassing.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)

9. I think it makes sense.

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #5)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:10 PM

Mar 2020

Like most of the rest of us, she knows that the race is over and the best way forward is to back our nominee. There wouldn't be any point in endorsing Sanders now.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

thesquanderer

(12,350 posts)

34. I think the reason is probably exactly what she said it was in her video.

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #5)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 07:50 AM

Mar 2020

It's posted in the OP at https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287677657 and It's worth watching from 1:40 to 4:00 -- all your questions will be answered.

Remember also that Gabbard had Biden's back a couple of times in the debates.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ucrdem

(15,714 posts)

35. "I'm confident that he will lead our country guided by the spirit of aloha"

Reply to thesquanderer (Reply #34)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 08:00 AM

Mar 2020

You have to admit she has a way with words!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

sop

(11,250 posts)

16. Rubio didn't run for re-election in '16, saying he wanted to concentrate on his presidential bid.

Reply to TwilightZone (Reply #3)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:14 PM

Mar 2020

Gabbard said the same thing last September. Then Rubio dropped out, endorsed Trump, changed his mind and ran for his Senate seat again. I suspect Tulsi will do the same now.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Cha

(305,475 posts)

18. Well she can run all she wants but we already

Reply to sop (Reply #16)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:24 PM

Mar 2020

have an excellent state senator running for Hawaii District 2 name of Kai Kahele.. he was already out funding Gabbard Before she dropped out.

Link to tweet

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Cha

(305,475 posts)

17. No.. that's a good reason, though, if she hadn't

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #1)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:18 PM

Mar 2020

told us last year, I think it was, that she's Quitting Congress! YAY!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Cha

(305,475 posts)

19. Maybe she will change her mind.. she'll be running against Kai Kahele

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Reply #1)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:25 PM

Mar 2020

Link to tweet

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)

2. She's a realist.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:03 PM

Mar 2020

Like most of us, she understands that the race is over and we need to get behind our nominee.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

FM123

(10,126 posts)

4. Maybe she hopes to be his veep?

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:06 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

SCantiGOP

(14,258 posts)

6. Hah!

Reply to FM123 (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:07 PM

Mar 2020

I am assuming that you meant that as a joke

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

FM123

(10,126 posts)

13. Kinda, but not really.

Reply to SCantiGOP (Reply #6)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:12 PM

Mar 2020

Since so many of us here are calling for Val Demings (my fav) or Kamala Harris as veep I was taken by surprise when a Bernie supporter posted today that if Tulsi were to be named veep, he would immediately change his support from Bernie to Biden. It never occurred to me that Tulsi would even be a consideration at all....

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

agincourt

(1,996 posts)

7. It does seem strange,

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:07 PM

Mar 2020

maybe Biden is the part of the establishment that she likes. I had a lot of hopes for her but she seemed like an empty suit at times. Just repeating the same stuff over and over without going into any depth.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

George II

(67,782 posts)

10. "The Establishment" does not exist.

Reply to agincourt (Reply #7)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:11 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

mikelgb

(6,021 posts)

22. Is this the latest?

Reply to George II (Reply #10)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:16 PM

Mar 2020

"I am the establishment"

"Black voters are the establishment"

"The Establishment does not exist."

evolution is beautiful

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

SiliconValley_Dem

(1,656 posts)

23. All are precision engineered to fuck with anti-establishment types

Reply to mikelgb (Reply #22)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:24 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ZZenith

(4,322 posts)

26. Does antidisestablishmentarianism?

Reply to George II (Reply #10)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:33 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)

20. The establishment? You mean the category for anyone not for Bernie?

Reply to agincourt (Reply #7)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:16 PM

Mar 2020

Because I really can’t see any difference.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

CTyankee

(65,074 posts)

8. Who cares?

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:09 PM

Mar 2020

I don't know why I should even give her a moment of my thoughts...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Celerity

(46,286 posts)

32. +100000000

Reply to CTyankee (Reply #8)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 06:13 AM

Mar 2020

some love to flog a dead horse

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Response to TomCADem (Original post)

democratisphere This message was self-deleted by its author.

relayerbob

(7,029 posts)

12. Smarter than she looks, perhaps it was mostly an act

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:12 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

IronLionZion

(46,997 posts)

14. Now that Americans are dying of a public health crisis

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:12 PM

Mar 2020

"Endless regime change wars" isn't much of an issue this year.

No matter what she says in her campaign, her voting record is more moderate than most Dems in Congress

https://voteview.com/person/21324/tulsi-gabbard

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

15. Sanders isn't gonna win. n/t

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 09:13 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)

21. Hopping on the bus driven by the winner?

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2020, 10:20 PM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

comradebillyboy

(10,473 posts)

24. Maybe she wants to have a future in

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:27 AM

Mar 2020

the Democratic party...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

tritsofme

(18,577 posts)

25. Because Sanders isn't a real candidate anymore.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:31 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)

29. Was he ever?

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #25)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 01:28 AM

Mar 2020

I'm not so sure of that.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

LisaM

(28,617 posts)

27. I'm sure it's a signal Bernie is dropping out.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:43 AM

Mar 2020

Maybe she's trying to deflect some of the anger some supporters will throw his way when he does.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

onenote

(44,699 posts)

28. it makes her more marketable to Fox

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 12:47 AM

Mar 2020

By aligning herself with Biden, she becomes more valuable to Fox as a "liberal Democrat" voice that will criticize Biden if he gets elected than she would be if she had never indicated any support for him.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

dansolo

(5,385 posts)

31. This, absolutely

Reply to onenote (Reply #28)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 05:52 AM

Mar 2020

I just assume that her motivation has to do with extending her relevance. This sounds absolutely like the most plausable, and is completely consistent with her previous actions. Her being in Congress was just a way to increase her profile. She got a boost by running for president. I believe she really wants a TV gig, and being a "liberal" contributor to FOX will give her the perfect opportunity to attack a Biden administration. I don't trust her at all.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Beakybird

(3,393 posts)

30. Maybe it strengthens the public perception of her lawsuit against Clinton.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 02:36 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

betsuni

(27,259 posts)

33. Because Hillary Clinton is the popular nemesis scapegoat, not Joe Biden.

Reply to TomCADem (Original post)

Fri Mar 20, 2020, 06:29 AM

Mar 2020

He's a guy. Doesn't really matter that he voted for the crime bill thing, Iraq War thing, NAFTA, was Vice President during the so-called "regime change" wars. Hillary is the bad warmonger who made American companies leave the U.S. and put everyone in jail. Bernie and Tulsi said so.

Bernie:

"The people in Detroit know the real cost of Hillary Clinton's free-trade policies."

"Hillary might want to apologize to loved ones in Iraq or to the massive levels of destabilization we are now seeing in that region. Or Senator Clinton might want to apologize to the millions of workers in this country who lost their jobs because of the disastrous trade agreements she supported."

Tulsi:

"You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long ... ."

When was she president or vice president again? I forget.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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